It’s Hump Day Already

The beauty of a three-day weekend with Monday off is that Hump Day — Wednesday — arrives so quickly. Wednesday is the hump at the top of the work week. Get it?

MPD 2nd District Has New Commander

You can see the new commander’s resume in his own words at the city’s website here. Michael Reese has replaced Matthew Klein at 2D; Klein has go to the MPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau. Police Service Area (PSA) 208, which includes Dupont-Kalorama, is in 2D.

This past weekend, there were several street robberies in which victims had iPhones taken away from them by force. The robberies took place in several areas near Georgetown and Dupont. Specifically, in the 1400 block of 31st Street, 29th and R Streets, and the 1500 block of 19th Street, NW. A separate robbery, in which a suspect grabbed a victim’s wallet in the 2100 block of P Street was immediately closed with an arrest by Second District officers. The descriptions given by victims in these robberies vary, but detectives are examining the events as we speak and will continue to search for leads. In the meantime, please continue to use caution when walking at night. It is best to walk in groups. Finally–your iPhone is being targeted by thieves so let’s make it as difficult as possible for them. If you have any information about these cases please call (202) 727-9099 or 911to report any suspicious activity or a crime in progress.

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MPD 2nd District is warning residents about recent iPhone robberies in the West Dupont area. Be cautious, particularly if you are asked to make call by a stranger.

From MPD:

On Wednesday night, and again late last night (Friday, 2:00 am), there were two separate robberies at 21st and P Streets NW. In both cases, the suspect approached the victims and engaged them in conversation before snatching their iPhones and running away. During the robbery last night, the suspect asked the victim if he could use the phone to make a call, but when the victim offered to dial for him, he snatched the phone and ran. The suspect in both cases is described as an African American male, about 20 years old, 5’8″ to 5’10.” Please use caution while walking late at night in this area and call Police immediately if you see anything suspicious.

MPD’s Second District includes Police Service Area 208, which covers the Dupont Circle neighborhood. (MPD website)

DC Police in the Second District have issued a lookout and warning on ATM machine robberies. According to Matthew Klein, commander of the Second District, the robberies have occurred in the lower part of the Second District (see map). Check out the MPD flyer with a description and photo of the suspect.

From Klein:

“Over the past several weeks, there were several robberies in the lower part of the Second District in which a lone suspect approaches individuals withdrawing money from ATM machines, and forces them to withdraw additional funds while threatening to harm them. Several of the victims stated the suspect was armed with a knife.”

Here is a police report from last Thursday on an ATM robbery at Massachusetts and Connecticut Avenues, which is at Dupont Circle:

“On Thursday, May 13, 2010, at 10:13 p.m., a Robbery/While Armed Knife offense occurred in the area of Massachusetts Ave. and Connecticut Ave., N.W. (PSA 208). The victim reported that while removing money from the ATM, he was approached from behind by a suspect who placed a knife to his side and demanded money. After giving the suspect his money, the suspect ran southbound in the 1300 blk. of New Hampshire Ave. N.W. The suspect is described as a Black/Male with a thin build.”

UPDATE: This was a bank robbery, not a mugging. I based my posting on the Police Alert. Thanks to dcist and commenters for the update and correction.

Should I feel better that our muggers are getting classier?

Got this police alert today. I wasn’t going to post about it, but then I thought, “Oh, this is a bit different.” You do hear of this approach to holding up people on the street–business attire–but I don’t remember it being employed recently in DC. The mugger struck at 16th and K NW this morning at 9:16, complete with hat and briefcase:

Good morning, all. Yesterday (Thursday) a woman was hit and badly hurt by a bus at the intersection of Connecticut and Florida Avenues NW (Greater Greater Washington has more details on the accident.) She was apparently jogging and thus carried no ID. The police need help in identifying her. Please see the message below from MPD 2nd District.

This morning [Thursday, Sept. 3] at approximately 8:30 AM, a female pedestrian was jogging northbound at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Florida Avenue, NW, when she was struck by a Metro bus that was traveling in an eastbound direction. The pedestrian suffered severe internal injuries and is currently in critical condition. The pedestrian did not have any identity on her person and is being listed as a Jane Doe.

She is described as being a white female, mid 20’s, and approximately 5’5” with a slender build. She was also wearing a white T-shirt, grey jogging shorts with a white trim, and white sneakers and socks. Anyone with information on the accident or the pedestrian’s identity is asked to contact the MPD at 202-727-9099.

Even if you live in East Borderstan (east of 15th) and are part of PSA 307, you are still very welcome to attend.Cross-border issues related to Borderstan are often discussed. This is a good opportunity to meet the new PSA 208 commander, Lt. Scott Dignan, and some of the officers who patrol our area.

This map (click to view larger image) shows the locations of the 11 violent crimes that occurred in the Borderstan crime area (highlighted in yellow) between July 14 and August 13. There were 7 robberies without a gun, 3 robberies with a gun, and 1 assault with a deadly weapon (no gun). Source and image: MPD Crime Search database.

This map (click to view larger image) shows the locations of the 26 violent crimes that occurred in PSA 208 (mostly the Dupont Circle area, highlighted in yellow) between July 14 and August 13. There were 17 robberies without a gun, 3 robberies with a gun, and 6 assaults with a deadly weapon (no gun). Source and image: MPD Crime Search database.

The following message is from Commander Matt Klein, head of the MPD’s Second District. Klein explains measures he has put in place in response to several armed robberies that occurred recently in Borderstan.

The Second District Police Station is asking for your assistance with a back to school supply drive. The Second District Police Station is having a back to school supply drive from Friday August 7, 2009 to Friday August 21, 2009. The drop box for school supplies is in the lobby of the Second District, 3320 Idaho Avenue NW (you can drop off donations at any time).

Even if you live in East Borderstan (east of 15th) and are part of PSA 307, you are still very welcome to attend.

A number of new officers are being assigned to West Borderstan/PSA 208. Officers Smith, Schwartze and Hansohn have been reassigned.

From PSA 208 / Rob Halligan:
On Tuesday July 21st, the Dupont/Kalorama Public Safety/PSA 208 Meeting will meet from 7 to 8:00pm at MPD Omega (big brick building in the alley between P, O, 21st and 22nd, probably upstairs, ask the staff for the police meeting room [it is probably upstairs]. Please spread the word to people who live and work in that area. We’ve been trying to vary the location of the Dupont/Kalorama Public Safety Meeting every other month. Please come up with a location for the September meeting (always the 3rd Tuesday of the month, otherwise at 1620 V Street NW) if you have some issues in a particular area.

MPD has in the Property Division close to 19 bikes that have been recovered in the district. Four were recovered yesterday in the Second District. If your bike was stolen, and you can properly identify it with either a receipt from a sale, or a picture with details along with your crime report, please contact Detective Sgt. John Rucker at the following email address: [email protected].

PSA 208 Residents: “I would like to thank you for the time and energy each of you has devoted to our partnership efforts and for your support in reducing crime in our neighborhoods. It is evident through our community and police partnerships we have been successful in reducing crime and making our streets safer. I would like to take this opportunity to briefly share the results of our hard work, and share some preventative tips with you.” – Commander Matthew Klein, MPD Second District

April 18, 2008 – May 17, 2008
Compared to April 18, 2009 – May 17, 2009:

Burglary: DOWN 71%

Theft from auto: DOWN 21%

Robbery: DOWN 8%

March 19, 2009 – April 17, 2009
Compared to April 18, 2009 – May 17, 2009:

Borderstanians: A reminder that the April community meeting of Police Service Area (PSA) 208 is tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 7 p.m. This month’s meeting is at a different location, Stead Recreation Center at 1625 P Street NW. Block captains are especially encouraged to attend this month’s meeting. Details from PSA 208 personnel follows.